The seminar, co-organized by the Science and Development News Center - Tia Sang and the National Technology Innovation Fund (Nafosted) on May 13, 2024 in Hanoi, attracted the participation of more than 30 reputable research groups, ranging from basic research to application-oriented research, both public and private, in various fields.
The seminar was attended by several scientists from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
Deputy Minister Tran Hong Thai stated that in recent years, the Party and State have consistently considered science, technology, and innovation (S&T) as crucial drivers for national development. Key terms such as "development based on S&T," "green economy," and "digital and circular economy" are frequently mentioned in the Party and Government's directives and policies. Simultaneously, over the past 10 years, the country's S&T sector has experienced significant growth. The percentage of publications in prestigious international journals (international articles) has increased by approximately 20%, with Vietnam publishing an average of 18,000 international articles annually. This demonstrates the country's growing research potential and capacity, placing it among the leading research nations in Southeast Asia.
Recognizing the importance of outstanding research groups, in national science and technology programs, the Ministry of Science and Technology does not prioritize investment and funding for research aimed solely at international publication, but rather focuses on enhancing the research capacity of talented young scientists. An illustrative example is that currently, the percentage of young scientists participating in Nafosted-funded projects is over 50%, and the Ministry of Science and Technology is aiming for this percentage to exceed 70%. In addition, the Ministry is concentrating on building the necessary foundations for outstanding research groups, such as investing in long-term research, avoiding fragmentation, and emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of research fields.
The Deputy Minister stated that the Ministry of Science and Technology will prioritize several strategically important research areas in the coming period, including atomic energy, the application of atomic energy for peaceful purposes; semiconductor technology; biotechnology; social sciences and humanities; medicine; and agriculture. In each field, for each stage of development, the Ministry of Science and Technology will set specific goals and collaborate with outstanding research groups to achieve these goals.
This seminar contributed to conveying the message of the Ministry of Science and Technology's leadership in promoting excellent research groups – this is about long-term connections and maintaining stability so that research institutions have the conditions to survive and develop in the future.
Deputy Minister Tran Hong Thai speaks at the seminar.
At the seminar, scientists presented on the formation and development of several strong research groups and discussed the development of research groups in the social sciences and humanities. Opinions suggested the need for a national program to develop excellent research groups. Based on practical experiences, the research groups proposed several recommendations related to financial mechanisms for funding scientific research, support for applied research institutions, commercialization, and patent protection both domestically and internationally.
Scientists exchange ideas at the seminar.
Representing the organizing unit, Dr. Pham Dinh Nguyen, Director of the Nafosted Fund, acknowledged the opinions of the scientists at the seminar, which will contribute to the development and adjustment of the Fund's policies. Based on this, he will report to the leaders of the Ministry of Science and Technology to propose and advise on appropriate policies to support outstanding research groups in the future.
